Electric cigar lighter and the like



Jan. 2 1,523,585

c. H. cuNo ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER AND THE LIKE Filed July 19, 1924 A @IIHIIIIL INVENTOR Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. CUNO, 0F MERIDEN, CONN ECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUNO ENGL- NEERING CORPORATION, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER AND THE LIKE.

Application filed July 19,.1924. Serial No. 726,934.

To all whomct may concern: 5

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CUNO, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden, county of New Haven, State of Gonnecticuhhave invented a new and useful Electric Cigar Lighter and the like, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates particularly tofeatures involving a manually operable switch. The main object is to provide a simple, inexpensive but reliable construction in which the circuit is normally opened but which is adapted to be closed by pressure on a push button.

Another object is to provide a construction ofthis character which is adapted to interchangeably carry a heater unit.- An other object is to provide a construction of standard-type the parts of which can be readily assembled in their proper relation.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a construction embodying one form of the improvements of my invention on a scale somewhat larger than would be necessary for ordinary commercial use.

Fig. 2 is a detail side view showing the unassembled parts on a smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. v

The casing 5 is preferably of tubular form, for instance, of metal adapted to contain the switch and hold the heater unit 6. It is also preferably adapted to support a guard or shield 7. The cable or cord 8 usually consists of two conductors or insulated wires.

The heater unit preferably has two pins or projections-9 adapted to interlock with bayonet slots 10 in the outer end of the tubular socket member 5. This heater member has preferably a body 11 formed of insulating material'adapted to suitably support a heater wire 12. One end of this wire is secured to a central contact button 13 and the other to the outer sleeve or ring 14.

In the particular form shown herein the switch member proper has a U-shaped frame or yoke 15, to one endof which is soldered or otherwise suitably secured one of the circuit wires 16. This frame 15 is secured to the tubular casing in a suitable manner, for instance, by a screw 17 which holds the parts together. -The other end of the frame 15 carries one or more spring pressed plungers 18 which press against the end ofthe heater .unit to yieldingly hold it with its pinsin place in the slots in the tubular casing.

The spring contact arm 19 is secured to the frame 15 though insulated from the frame by washers 21. The conductor 22 is secured to this rivet 20 as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end 23 of the arm 19 is bent over and adapted to engage the center contact 13 of the heater when the button 24 is pressed. The button is insulated from the arm 19, for instance, by the insulating strip 25 and washer 26. An insulating guard sleeve or collar 27 may be provided around the outer end of the wire 22.

\Vhen the button switch is closed the circuit is complete through wire 16 to the yoke or frame 15 thence through screw 17 to casing 5, thence to the terminal collar. 14 of the heater unit, through the heating coil back to the contact 13, thence through the arm 19 t0 the conductor-22. When the button 24 is mechanically by a rivet 20 al-' released the spring arm 19 automatically opens the circuit. When the plungers 18 are of metal the circuitmay also pass from them .to the end of the ring 1 4.

It will be obvious that the heater unit may be attached and detached as desired and that the shield 7 when used may be ap lied in any suitable manner, for instance as s own in the Cuno Patent #1,346,368. Itshould also be understood that this switch and heater unit may be used either with or without a reel as shown in Cuno Patents 1,208,504 or 1,378,013.

It will also be obvious that any ordinary electric lamp bulb can be readily substituted for the heater unit. a

The frame 15 with the pressure plungers and switch contact arm. made u and handled as a unit adapted to be inserte in any casing. It'will also be noted that the frame and contacts can be readily removed from the casing'as a unit for the purpose of inspection.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a metallic frame detachably secured therein, a lon itudinally movable pressure device carried by said frame and a spring pressed contact arm carried by said frame.

2. A- device of the character described comprising a casing having a cord passage at one end and means for detachably mounting a heater unit in the other end, a metaldirect may be conveniently lic frame secured in said casing, a pressure device carried by said frame and a spring pressed contact arm carried by said frame.

3. A device of the cha'acter described comprising a tubular casing, a frame mounted therein and connected to said casing electrically, a, detachable heater unit in said casing having a central contact terminal, and a spring arm mounted in said casing and adapted to engage said central contact terminal and having a projecting push button for operating the same.

4. A device of the character described comprising a tubular casing, a metallic frame mounted therein, a screw securing said frame in said casing mechanically and connecting it electrically, a detachable'heater unit having a central contact terminal, :1 spring arm mounted in said casing and adapted to engagesaid contact and a projecting push button for operating the same.

In a device of the character described,

a tubular casing a U-shaped metallic frame secured therein, a spring arm having a foot supported by but insulated from said frame and having a laterally movable portion, a longitudinally movable spring pressed member carried by said frame for contact with a side terminal of a heater unit. and a central contact member carried by the laterally movable portion of said spring arm and adapted to engage the center contact of a heater unit.

6. A device of the character described comprising a tubular casing, aswitch frame therein, means for securing said frame detachably in said casing, a detachable heater unit having a contact terminal, and a spring arm secured to said frame and adapted to engage said contact and having a projecting push .button for operating the same.

7. A device of the character described comprising a U-shaped frame, a spring pressed plunger carried by one end, a eircuit terminal at the other end, a spring switch arm secured to but insulated from one end of said frame, a push button insulated from said arm for operating said switch arm and a circuit terminal for said arm.

8. A device of the character described comprising a tube, two metal strips mounted therein and having parallel flanges, mechanically secured together but electrically insulated from each other, and each having its own circuit terminal, a laterally movable contact member carried by the opposite end of one strip for engaging the center contact of a translating element and a spring pressed member carried by the other strip for longitudinally pressing against the edges of a translating element and means for supporting a translating element in the outer end of said tube in position to be engaged by said members.

9. In a device of the character described. a casing, a frame mounted therein and having two spaced-apart arms, spring pressed pins carried by said arms for engaging the side contact of a translating element and a spring arm connected to said frame but insulated therefrom and having an angular tip adapted to ,be depressed between said pins for engaging the center contact of said translating element.

10. A tubular casing, a metallic frame member detachably secured in and grounded on said casing and having a circuit terminal connection and a spring arm supported by but insulated from said frame, a push button therefor and a translating element detachablymounted in the outer end of said casing and having an outer sleeve in electrical contact therewith and having a central contact adapted to be engaged by the end of said arm.

CHARLES H. CUNO. 

